Cranberry Christmas Star (Printable Version)

A vibrant holiday appetizer featuring cranberries and creamy cheeses shaped into a radiant star.

# What You Need:

→ Cheese Filling

01 - 1 cup cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cranberry Mixture

06 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
07 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
08 - 1 tablespoon orange zest
09 - 2 tablespoons orange juice
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Pastry

11 - 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
12 - 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds (optional)
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios (optional)
15 - Fresh rosemary sprigs, for decoration

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat until cranberries burst and the mixture thickens, approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
03 - In a bowl, blend cream cheese, mozzarella, feta, chives, and black pepper until smooth and evenly combined.
04 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out one sheet of puff pastry to a 12-inch diameter circle. Place it onto the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Evenly spread the cheese mixture over the pastry circle, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
06 - Distribute the cooled cranberry mixture evenly over the cheese layer.
07 - Place the second puff pastry sheet over the cranberry layer and trim edges to align perfectly with the bottom layer.
08 - Position a small bowl (approx. 3 inches diameter) in the center. Using a sharp knife, cut the pastry from the edge of the bowl outward into five equal rays, forming a star shape.
09 - Gently twist each ray outward to reveal layers and filling. Remove the central bowl.
10 - Brush the entire pastry surface lightly with the beaten egg to ensure a glossy, golden finish.
11 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
12 - Allow to cool slightly. Garnish optionally with pomegranate seeds, chopped pistachios, and fresh rosemary. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, but comes together in under an hour
  • The sweet-tart cranberries balanced against creamy cheeses creates a flavor combination that keeps people reaching for more
  • You can make it ahead and bake it fresh when guests arrive, which means less stress and more time enjoying the party
  • It's vegetarian, naturally elegant, and works for any holiday celebration, not just Christmas
02 -
  • The cranberry mixture absolutely must cool completely before you assemble. Hot filling creates steam that makes your pastry soggy instead of crispy and puffed. I learned this the hard way.
  • Don't skip softening the cream cheese—cold cream cheese won't blend smoothly with the other ingredients and you'll have lumpy filling instead of silky smooth
  • The egg wash is what gives you that professional, bakery-quality golden-brown color. Don't assume it's optional or skip it thinking it doesn't matter. It absolutely does.
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife and make smooth, confident cuts for those rays instead of sawing, which can tear the pastry and make your edges ragged
  • If your pastry starts sticking to your work surface while rolling, give it a light dusting of flour and rotate it occasionally so it doesn't stick
  • The orange zest is non-negotiable—it's what makes people go 'what is that?' and creates depth the recipe loses without it
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